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Public Health and Welfare
Committee 11/17/04
The Senate Public Health
& Welfare Committee met on Wednesday, November 17, 2004, and unanimously
reported out the following bills as committed:
House Bill 2270 (Vance) - This bill, the “Family Support for
Persons with Disabilities Act,” would direct the Department of Public
Welfare to establish and implement pilot projects supporting families of
persons with disabilities. The stated purpose of this legislation is to
help families remain united and keep persons with disabilities in their
homes and in the community, reuniting families when possible. Upon
completion of the pilot projects, the Department would evaluate and
report on them, with statewide expansion in three months.
House Bill 2980 (Dally) - This bill would amend the Local Health
Administration Law, allowing “split municipalities” to join county
departments of health and allowing the dissolution of a department of
health with the vote of its governing body. With respect to this law,
the definition of “municipality” would include second-class townships.
The committee unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:
House Bill 1187 (Wansacz)
– This bill would authorize the Department of Health to establish a task
force to investigate toxic mold contamination and advise the
Department. Amendment A 4856 calls for the task force to “study the
potential hazards” of toxic mold, rather than “investigate.”
Public Health and Welfare
Committee 9/27/04
On Monday, September 27,
2004, the committee met to consider one bill.
HB 2036 KENNEY The bill provides a statutory means through the
use of a Mental Health Advance Directive for adults to have a voice in
their mental health care. Amendment 3559 makes technical changes to the
bill. The bill was reported as amended, unanimously.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee 6/29/04
On Tuesday, June 29, 2004 ,
the Public Health & Welfare Committee reported out the following bills:
As Committed:
SB 1112, PN 1605 (M White)- This bill establishes a Board of Directors
for the Rouse Estate located in Warren County.
As Amended:
HB 1039 PN 1214 (Dailey) (Vote 11-0)- This bill identifies specific
conditions or care needs that would preclude a consumer from being
admitted to or retained by a personal care home.
Amendment A2818- This amendment strips out the personal care home
language and provides assessments for Medicaid managed care providers
and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee 6/8/04
On Tuesday, June 8, 2004 , the Public Health & Welfare Committee
reported out the following bills:
As Amended:
SB 492 PN 1653 (Greenleaf) (Vote 11-0)-This bill amends Title 18 (Crimes
and Offences) and Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes,
(Decedents, Estates, and Fiduciaries Code), by amending provisions
relating to advanced directives for health care (living wills) and
adding provisions creating comprehensive health care powers of attorney.
Amendment A0993- this is amendment restructures the bill by creating 5
subsection instead of 4. It also makes changes recommended by the Joint
State Government Commission's Task Force and Advisory Committee on
Decedents' Estates Laws.
HB 1911 PN 4012 (Vance) (Vote 11-0)- This bill amends the Public Welfare
Code by allowing certified registered nurse practitioners, physician
assistants and licensed midwives to verify a persons claim to have a
disability. The disability would need to be verified to provide a
permanent or temporary exemption from employment or work related
activities required in the welfare reform requirements for cash
assistance eligibility.
Amendment A2046- This amendment added midwives to the list of qualified
people able to verify a disability.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee
5/18/04
On Tuesday, May 18, 2004 , the Public Health & Welfare
Committee reported out the following bills: As Committed:
HB 1211, PN 2632 (Micozzie) (Vote 10-0)- This bill amends the
Public Welfare Code by raising the personal needs allowance to not less
$40 per month for Medical Assistance eligible individuals residing in
nursing facilities.
The bill also provides for a future increase of not less than $45
beginning July 1, 2007.
As Amended:
SB 136 PN 148 (Mowery) (Vote 11-1 Waugh voted no) This bill is
known as the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Act and provides for the
licensure of assisted living residents and services.
Amendment 1784 (Vote 11-1 Waugh voted no) A comprehensive amendment that
eliminates multiple sections. The amendment also removes all reference
to licensing of assisted living providers, limiting licensure to
residences only.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee
2-9-04
On Monday, February 9 2009, the Public
Health & Welfare Committee reported out the following bills:
As Amended:
SB 261, PN1385 (George) ( Vote 9-2,
Kitchen, Scarnati voted no) This bill amends the Health Care Facilities
Act by authorizing the Dep. of Health to provide for a certification of
need of heath care providers
Amendment A0236 (vote 11-0) Changes the
effective date, updates monetary thresholds and eliminates reverences to
offices and agencies that are no longer applicable. Also eliminates the
10 bed exception and clarifies that CON applies to offices where
clinically related health services are offered.
HB 138 PN 3303 (sponsor withdrawn) (Vote
10-1 Hughs No) This bill raises the cost of a death certificate when it
is obtained from a local registrar from $2 to $5.
Amendment A0254 (Vote 11-0)- The bill was
amend to remove a $35,000 cap on fees that a registrar may collect in a
year. This amendment reinstates that cap.
HB 794 PN 3304 (Schroder) (Vote 11-0)
This legislation amends the Vital Statistics Law of 1953 by changing the
listings on birth certificates for foreign-born children and
foreign-born children who are adopted in Pennsylvania, who meet the
federal guidelines for citizenship and whose parents verify citizenship
with Immigration and Naturalization Service. The birth certificates
shall still show the true country of birth and the date of birth, but
will not contain any notation regarding citizenship of the registrant.
Formerly all birth certificates of this type would contain a notation
stating that the birth certificate is not proof of citizenship.
Amendment A0235 (Vote 11-0) This
amendment identifies that evidence of citizenship can be a US passport,
Certificate of Citizen ship or other documents later identified by the
department.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee
11/25/03
On Tuesday, November 25, 2003, the Public
Health & Welfare Committee unanimously reported out the following
bill:
As Committed:
SB 999 PN 1172 (Phillips) (Vote 11-0)
This legislation directs the Department of Health to create a
Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) Education Program to promote
public awareness of the causes, the value of early detection, diagnosis
and the treatment of this disease. RSDS, also know as Complex Regional
Pain Syndrome, is a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by sever
burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, tissue swelling and
extreme sensitivity to touch. Untreated RSDS can lead to permanent
deformity and chronic pain.
Public Health and Welfare Committee
6/24/03
The Public Health & Welfare Committee met on Tuesday,
June 24, 2003 and reported out the following nomination:
The nomination of Calvin B. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., as Secretary of the
Department of Health. At the conclusion of the meeting, Johnson
unanimously received a favorable recommendation and the vote was
unanimous.
The Public Health & Welfare Committee met on Tuesday,
June 24, 2003 and reported out the following bill:
As Amended:
HB 100 Schroder - (PN 2186) The bill provides funds to accredited trauma
centers in PA to provide financial assistance to assure readily
available and coordinated trauma care. The department must seek to
maximize any federal funds, including Social Security funds available
for trauma care stabilization. Requires DPW to report to appropriate
legislative committees. Requires the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems
Foundation to establish standards for and accredit Level III trauma
centers. The bill was reported as amended unanimously.
A2305 by Mowery, would establish that the accrediting formula for Level
III trauma centers would be based on the guidelines of the American
College of Surgeons. Also, it states that the PA Trauma Systems
Foundation must assess the impact of Level III trauma centers within
five years. The amendment was adopted unanimously.
Public Health and Welfare Committee
6/23/03
On Monday June 23, 2003 the Public Health and Welfare
committee met and reported out the following bill:
As Committed:
HB 1406 Argall - (PN 2218) Act stating that for purposes of payments to
hospitals for inpatient hospital services, the political subdivisions of
Coaldale Borough and Butler Township in Schuylkill County are designated
as rural areas. Additionally, the bill states that hospitals designated
as Medicare dependent hospitals as of Sept. 30, 2000 would be designated
as rural hospitals. The bill was reported as committed unanimously
(11-0).
HB 100 Schroder - (PN 2186) The bill provides funds to accredited trauma
centers in PA to provide financial assistance to assure readily
available and coordinated trauma care. The department must seek to
maximize any federal funds, including Social Security funds available
for trauma care stabilization. Requires DPW to report to appropriate
legislative committees. Requires the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems
Foundation to establish standards for and accredit Level III trauma
centers. The bill was held over in committee.
Public Health and Welfare Committee
6/10/03
On Tuesday,
June 10, 2003, the Public Health & Welfare Committee unanimously
reported out the following bills:
SB 766 (D.
White) This bill establishes a catch up Hepatitis B immunization program
for grades Seven and Twelfth.
SB 387 (MJ
White) This bill reestablished the Health Care Cost Containment act
Amendment: This
amendment changes the composition of the Council by adding four
legislators, a hospital representative and a nurse. It also limits
clinical data submission by hospitals to 75 diseases and medical
conditions, thus reducing PHC4's reporting requirements. It also
modifies the penalties for failure to submit data. It also requires that
the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to evaluate and report back
to the Public Heath and Welfare Committee.
Public Health and Welfare
Committee
3/25/03
On
Tuesday, March 25, 2003, the Public Health & Welfare Committee
unanimously reported out the following bills:
HB 44, PN 48
(Oliver)- The bill amends the Administrative Code by exempting
individuals who have been convicted of a felony drug offense for the
federal ban on cash assistance and food stamps.
SB 218, PN 226
(Greenleaf)- This bill creates the Mold Public Information and Education
Act. Establishing a public information and education program to inform
the public about the health effects of molds and methods of prevention,
identification and remediation of mold growth.
The Public
Health & Welfare Committee also reported out the following bills as
amended:
SB 137, PN 125
(Mowery)- This Bill amends the Minor's Consent Act by adding a section
dealing specifically with mental heath services. It will include
heightened due process requirements, allow for the release of a minor's
medical records, and require the collection and reporting of certain
information by the court..
Amendment A0023
Clarifies that it is the attending physician, not the facility director,
that determines the appropriateness of continued inpatient treatment.
SB 265, PN 269
(Corman)- This bill establishes the Consumers' continuity of Care Act-
Provides for the treatment of psychological problems in health care
facilities.
Amendment
A0159- Clarifies that nothing in this act requires or affects third
party reimbursement.
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